Cutting guide for packaged food material



April 23, 1957 H. B. HEATH I 2,789,913

CUTTING GUIDE FOR PACKAGED FOOD MATERIAL Filed May 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1l d/l4 /5 I ///Z ///3 /46' L c@ i Z9, i 3 2 L I Jq .11W/Ewan` Howard ,5.4 Heat/7 April 23, 1957 H. B. HEATH 2,789,913

CUTTING GUIDE FOR PACKAGED Foou. MATERIAL A INVENToR. Hom/cz Pd 5. Hea H7 #Kamel/,Jaan

Attorneys United States Patent O CUTTING GUIDE FOR PACKAGED FOOD MATERIAL Howard B. Heath, Bethlehem, Fa.

Application May 27, 1955, Serial No. 511,587

6 Claims. (Cl. 99-178) This invention relates to improvements in packages, and more particularly to an improved package for a block of soft plastic food material, such as cheese -or the like provided with guide means for facilitating the cutting 4or slicing of the material.

A main object 4of the invention is to provide a novel and improved package for a block -of soft plastic food material, such as cheese, butter, or the like, said package being provided with guide means for facilitating the slicing or cutting of the food material to various shapes and thicknesses, said guide means being simple in construction, being integrally formed with the main container of the food material, and providing a convenient and ecient support and guide for facilitating the `cutting of the food material into desired shapes.

A further `object of the invention is to provide an improved package yor conta-incr for `a block of soft plastic food material such as cheese or the like, said container being inexpensive to manufacture, being provided with conveniently arranged guide means which may Ibe employed in conjunction with the container to facilitate the slicing or cutting of the food material into `desired shapes or sizes, and which is sufficiently durable in construction to be employed for slicing or cutting an entire block of food material contained therein.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cardboard blank employed to form the main container portion of an improved package for a block of soft plastic food material constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a rst step in the folding `of the blank of Figure 1 to construct the main container.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a further step in the folding of the blank.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the completed main container constructed from the blank of Figure l by the folding steps illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 4 in inverted position with the flap members thereof elevated `to upstanding vertical positions iabove the bot tom wall of the main container to deiine a guide `space therebetween for receiving the block of soft plastic material to be sliced.

Figure 6 is a perspective view generally similar to Fig-- ure Ibut illustrating `a further arrangement of the flap elements -of the container to provide a diterent type of cutter guiding action.

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 and illustrating a still further arrangement of the flap mem- 'bers to provide a further type of cutter guiding action which may be used for slicing the block of plastic food material.

Referring t-o the drawings, 11 generally designates a cardboard blank which is generally rectangular in shape and which is formed with the respective rectangular end 2,789,913 Patented Apr. 23, 1957 ICS aps 12, 12', 13, 13 and 14, 14', spaced as shown in Figure l. The blank 11 is further provided with the side flaps 15 and 16, `said side flaps being formed with trans verse slits 17 and 1S and being further formed with longitudinal slits 19 and 20 extending adjacent the inner ends 'of the transverse slits 17 and 18 and being of substantial length, las shown in Figure l, to -deiine respective bendable wing elements 21 and 22 adjacent the `slits 17 and bendable wing elements 23 Iand 24 adjacent lthe slit 18.

As shown in Figure 1, the slits 17 and 18 may be formed with edges of non-linear shape, for example, may be formed with sinuously shaped edges 25 -on one side of the slit and with `serrated edges 26 lon the other side of the slit.

The respective flap elements 15 and 16 may be further formed at one end of the blank with the spaced longitudinal slits 27 for a purpose presently to be described.

ln forming the main container, the blank is folded along longitudinal crease lines 28, 28 aligned with the 'side edges of the aps 13 and 13, `and the llaps 13 and 13' `are folded along crease lines 29 and 29 `shown in Figure .1.

As shown in Figure 2, during this stage of the conlstruction of the main container, the end aps 13 and 13 are folded to depending positions and the end flaps 12, 12 and 14, 14 are folded to upstanding positions, the blank being further folded on crease lines 30, 3@ aligned with the inner edges of the 4flaps 12, 12 and 14, 14'. The ap members 15 and 16 'are folded downwardly around longitudinal crease lines 31, 31, substantially in alignment with the longitudinal slits 19 and 20.

In a further stage of construction of the container, shown in Figure 3, the ilap elements 12, 12 are overlapped with the ap elements 14, 14 `and are at the same time overlapped with the depending flap elements 13, 13 to yderive the iinal container shown in Figure 4. The overlapped flap members 12, 13 and 14, and 12', 13 and 14 are suitably fastened together, by any suitable means, such as adhesive, staples, or the like, thus completing the construction of the main container, designated generally at 32 -in Figure 4. In said main container, the iiap members 15 and 16 at the longitudinal sides of the container are normally disposed adjacent the side walls of the container in the position shown substantially in Figure 4. In Figure 4, the main container is shown in its inverted position, which is the position in which said main container is placed when it is desired to employ the main container as a support and guide for cutting the block of soft plastic food material normally housed in the main container. Thus, said -m-ain container may be employed as a receptacle for a block of cheese, and may be priovided with a suitable conventional additional -cover which is removed when the package is opened.

When it is desired to cut slices or small cube-like blocks from the main block of cheese or similar plastic food material, the block of food material is removed from the main container 32 and said main container is inverted to the position shown in Figure 4. The ilap members 15 and 16 are then elevated `to upstanding vertical positions, such as in Figure 5, and the block of food material may then be placed on the bottom wall of the main container, shown at 33, the block being received between the upstanding flap members 15 and 16, and the transversely aligned vertical slits 17 and 18 may be employed as guides for a cutting wire kor similar implement to guide said implement downwardly through the mass of food material, enabling lslices to be cut from 'said mass.

The longitudinal slits 27 are transversely aligned, so that, if so desired, said slits may be utilized as guides for cutting small cubes or blocks from the mass. To accomplish this, the main block of cheese or other plastic food material is disposed with its end ush with the forward edges of the flap members i5 and i6, as viewed in Fig. 5, and the cutting wire or similar implement is passed through transversely aligned pairs of slits 27 to make horizontal cuts in the mass of food material. The mass of food material is then rotated ninety degrees to a second position similar to the rst position thereof and the cutting implement is again passed through the transversely aligned pairs of slits 27, 27 to make another cut at ninety degrees to and intersecting the previously made cuts, thereby deiining square blocks in the end portion of the mass of cheese or similar food material. The mass of food material may then be arranged with the end portion thereof adjacent the vertical slits 17 and 1S, and said slits may be employed as vertical guides for the cutting implement to sever the aforesaid cubicle elements dened in the first two cutting operations. Alternatively, the rear vertical edges of the ap members .l5 and 16 may be employed as the guides for the cutting implement, whereby it is merely necessary to reverse the mass of food material and move same the required distance rearwardly after the :first two horizontal cuts have been made therein as above described, the third cut being made by moving cutting implements downwardly employing the rear vertical edges of the iiap members and 16 as guides, whereby the desired cubes or blocks of food material are severed from the main block.

Obviously the rear vertical edges of the ap members may be employed as cutting guides when it is merely desired to cut simple smooth slices from the mass of food material.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative arrangement wherein the portions ot the ilap elements l5 and 16 adjacent the serratioris 26 are folded inwardly around fold lines designated at 34, providing a large space adjacent to the sinuously shaped edges 2S and allowing slices of food material to be cut from the main block by employing the sinuous edges 25 as guides for the cutting implement. Similarly, the serrated edges 26 may be employed as guides by utilizing the arrangement illustrated in Figure 7 wherein the folded portions containing the serrated edges 26 are disposed against the forward end portions of the ap members .l5 and l5 so that the block of food material may be passed between the forwarded folded portions ot the dan members, and so that the block may be sliced by employing the forwardly projecting serrated edges 26, 26 as guides for the cutting wire or other cutting implement.

It will be understood that by employing the sinuous edges 25 as guides the resultant slice will present a sinuous or wavy appearance, whereas by employing the serrated edges 26, 26 as cutting guides, the resultant slices will present a serrated or grooved appearance.

Another alternative arrangement may be obtained by folding inwardly the portions ot the iiap elements l5 and 16 containing the sinuous edges 25, so that a block of food material disposed between the folded ap portions can be Sliced into sinuous or wavy slices without block overhang except for that portion being cut olf.

Obviously a considerable number ot variations in the arrangement of the cutter guide elements provided in the improved device above disclosed will occur to those skilled in the art.

While a specific embodiment of an improved package for a block of self-plastic food material. has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination a generally rectangular block of soft plastic food material, a rectangular container surrounding said block, said container being formed of relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side Walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, and a pair of flap 4 members of relatively rigid sheet material and of substantially of the same height as said side walls hinged to the main container at the longitudinal side edges of said bottom Wall and being movable to upstanding vertical positions above said bottom wall when the container is inverted, to define a guide space therebetween for at times receiving .and supporting the block of soft plastic material unmovably therebetween, said flap members being formed with opposed guide edges for engaging a eutting implement arranged transverse to the block.

2. ln combination a generally rectangular block of soft plastic food material, a rectangular container surrounding said block, said container being formed of relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, and a pair of ap members of relatively rigid sheet material and of substantially the same height as said side walls hinged to the main container at the longitudinal side edges of said bottom wall and being movable to upstanding vertical positions above said bottoni wall when the container is inverted to deine a guide space therebetween for at times receiving and supporting the block of soft plastic material iminovably therebetween, said ap members bcing formed with opposed guide slits for receiving a cutting implement arranged transverse to the block.

3. ln combination a generally rectangular block of soft plastic food material, a rectangular container surrounding said block, said container being formed of relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, and a pair of iiap members of relatively rigid sheet material and of sub stantially the same height as said side walls hinged to the main container at the longitudinal side edges of said bottoni wall and being movable to opstanding vertical positions above said bottom wall when the container is inverted to define a guide space therebetween tor at times receiving and supporting the block of soft plastic material immovably therebetween, said flap members being formed with opposed, substantially vertical guide slits for receiving a cutting implement arranged transverse to the block.

4. ln combination a genera ly rectangular block of soft plastic food material, a rectangular container surrounding said block, said container being formed ot relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, and a pair of flap members of relatively rigid sheet material and of substantially the same height as said side walls hinged to the main container at the longitudinal side-edges or said bottom wall and being movable to opstanding vertical positions above said bottom wall when the container is inverted to define a guide space therebetween for at times receiving and supporting the block of soft plastic material immovably therebetween, said i'lap members being formed with opposed substantially vertical guide slits for receiving a cutting implement arranged transverse to the block, said guide slits having substantially sinuous edges on one side of the slits and substantially serrated edges on the other side of the slits.

5. ln combination a generally rectangular block of soft plastic food material, a rectangular container surrounding said block, said container being formed of relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, and a pair of ilap members of relatively rigid sheet material and ot substantially the same height as said side walls hinged to the main container at the longitudinal side edges Of said bottom wall and being movable to upstanding vertical positions above said bottom wall when the container is inverted to deline a guide space therebetween for at times receiving and supporting the block of soft plastic material immovably therebetween, said flap members being formed at their intermediate portions with substantially vertical opposed guide slits to receive a transverse cutting implement, the flap members being longitudinally slit adjacentjthe. bottom ends of said vertical guide slits to define foldable tabs including the edges of said vertical guide slits, whereby an opposed pair of such tabs may be folded away from said guide slits and employed as guide means for the transverse cutting implement and whereby the edges of the remaining pair of unfolded tabs may be employed as additional guide means for the transverse cutting implement.

6. In combination a generally rectangular block of soft plastic food material, a rectangular container surrounding said block, said container being formed of relatively rigid sheet material and having longitudinal side walls, end walls, and a bottom wall, and forward and rear pairs of flap members of relatively rigid sheet material and of substantially the same height as said side walls hinged to the main container at the longitudinal side edges of said bottom wall and being movable to upstanding vertical positions above said bottom wall when the container is inverted to deine guide spaced therebetween for at times receiving and supporting the block of soft plastic material immovably therebetween, said forward ap members being formed at their inter- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,029 Long Feb. 20, 1917 1,649,088 Tinsley Nov. 15, 1927 1,917,132 Labombarde July 4, 1933 1,994,318 Loth Mar. 12, 1935 2,414,659 Montague Jan. 21, 1947 2,477,217 Swanson July 26, 1949 2,609,564 Grimm Sept. 9, 1952 

1. IN COMBINATION OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BLOCK OF SOFT PLASTIC FOOD MATERIAL, A RECTNGULAR CONTAINER SURROUNDING SAID BLOCK, SAID CONTAINER BEING FORMED OF RELATIVELY RIGID SHEET MATERIAL AND HAVING LONGITUDINAL SIDE WALLS, END WALLS, AND A BOTTOM WALL, AND A PAIR OF FLAG MEMBERS OF RELATIVELY RIGID SHEET MATERIAL AND OF SUBSTANTIALLY OF THE SAME HEIGHT AS SAID SIDE WALLS HINGED TO THE MAIN CONTAINER AT THE LONGITUDINAL SIDE EDGES OF 